From athletic achievement to building a community, DGS’s throwing team stands out in many ways. The team has fostered an extremely close-knit group that hosts a unique coed program.

Throwing, by nature, is an individual sport. Athletes compete by throwing shot puts and discuses. This means that practices could be isolating, as most skills require individual focus. Despite this potential block, the team has created a welcoming environment.

Sophomore girls captain Caitlyn Mueller has been on the team for her entire high school career, and reflects on the practice’s usual format.

“Practices are pretty mixed, but it is more of an individual sport… and we work individually on our technique. Every thrower is working on something different,” Mueller said.

The coaching staff has particularly worked to incorporate traditions that have brought the team together. Sophomore boys captain Xander Wilkerson particularly appreciates these customs.

“The throwing team environment is more family-like than anything. Our coach is very insistent on us having our own nicknames. This allows for us to be a different person when we are up there, allowing us to have an escape and to share this bond with just the people there,” Wilkerson said.

These communal rituals make a difference not only in terms of team bonding but also help lead to athletic success. Girls track and field coach Douglas Plunkett endorses this sentiment.

“They all work hard together, and they really encourage and support each other, which is always helpful,” Plunkett said.

An additional component of the team is their coed environment. The boys and girls throwers practice with the same coaching staff at the same time. This is unconventional to some eyes, but undeniably builds team bonds.

“I’m not thrilled about the coed part, but we have limitations with the number of coaches that we have, and so we try to cooperate with the boys program and help both of us out,” Plunkett said. “I think that the boys and the girls do support each other with what they’re doing, which creates a good environment.”

The athletes themselves wholeheartedly believe in the coed program and its benefits.

“With it being coed, it allows for lots more insight and understanding, because it lets everyone work together regardless of gender, even allowing for people to push one another further,” Wilkerson said.

The diverse nature of a coed group brings a valued perspective to many on the team.

“It creates a sense of family by having such a varied group of people, and that there is almost a comfort in being on a team with different people who have different perspectives,” Mueller said.

Ultimately, the team has found success in many forms. They look forward to beginning their season this winter for the indoor track and field season.

Click here to follow the team’s achievements.